Farm groups urge White House to act ahead of possible port strike By Reuters

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nearly 200 farm organizations urged the White House on Friday morning to address key issues in the U.S. agricultural supply chain ahead of a potential East and Gulf Coast port strike that could begin on Tuesday.

The groups said the industry faces “severe and imminent shipping disruptions” due to a potential work stoppage, jammed rail lines and historically low river levels that are supporting grain barge shipments and affecting trade with Mexico, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.

The groups called on the federal government to direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the lower Mississippi River to maintain 12-foot-deep channels and to intervene to reopen U.S. rail grain movement to Mexico.